Long-lasting blooms for Spring until Autumn -The Gardener : The Gardener

Long-lasting blooms for Spring until Autumn

What can be more eye-catching than a beautiful splash of colour when entering a town, park, or home garden? You will agree that the sight of colourful, well-managed bedding plants not only lifts your spirit, but also makes a very good impression.

Some annuals and perennials have the staying power we all love in a garden or container plant – flowering for as long as possible. These special varieties will provide what you need in a variety of colours and for sun or for shade.

Impatiens

The new, improved impatiens varieties are a must for any spring garden. These annuals are among the most colourful for shady areas, and some can even be planted in full sun, making them very versatile in the garden. They also make excellent container plants.

Sunpatiens: Sunpatiens are the original and trusted sun-loving Impatiens. They don’t just tolerate full sun and high temperatures; they thrive in it. They are the ideal plant for worry-free colour in sun or shade, rain or shine from early spring to early winter. 66 x 81 cm.
Beacon: A great colour selection in this improved hybrid with a high resistance to downy mildew. They offer a vibrancy in the shade and make great bright hanging baskets or containers. 36 x 46 cm.
Solarscape: Unbeatable colour in full sun is how this variety is described. It flowers from spring to late summer and is also great in the shade. This award-winning annual has velvety blooms in a tropical-style plant. 51 x 28 cm.

What Impatiens need

✔Sun or shade, depending on the variety.

✔ Well-draining, rich soil with a slightly acidic pH (6.0 – 6.5).

✔ Regular watering. They do well near water features, but avoid overhand underwatering, which can cause diseases.

✔ Feed with a balanced fertiliser every 4-6 weeks.

✔ Deadhead to keep neat and prevent seed formation, extending the flowering season.

Salvias

The range of salvias means there is one for every situation, and many different types are even better in a garden. They flower for ages, need very little care, and the perennial types can be chopped to the ground to grow vigorously the next season. There are some really stunning varieties out there. Check these out:

Salgoon: Exceptional performing garden plants with strong, robust foliage and stems and loads of flower stalks from early spring to autumn. Drought- and heat-tolerant. 60 x 60 cm.

Plum Crazy: Pretty burgundy flowers that are bee and butterfly magnets. Drought- and heat-tolerant, with flowers from late spring to late summer. 122 x 122 cm.

Mirage: This Salvia greggii has different-shaped flowers but still has the toughness of any of the other salvias – heat tolerance, low maintenance, and long blooming. Perfect for full sun and a good pollinator attractor. 41 x 36 cm.

Black & Bloom: A vibrant dark blue and black salvia that doesn’t mind the shade. This tough perennial salvia thrives in heat, drought and humidity. 122 x 122 cm.

Purple & Bloom: This perennial has massive flower power from spring to late autumn in sun or partial shade. 122 x 122 cm.

Mystic Spires: A compact salvia with proven summer performance and true-blue flowers in full sun. An upright habit and drought and heat tolerant. 46 x 61 cm.

Mysty: An upright, naturally compact medium-sized salvia with dark green leaves and dark purple blue to purple flowers. Works very well in the middle of borders with contrasting foliage plants. 46 x 46 cm.

Salmia: This salvia grows anywhere, attracts pollinators like bees and butterflies and comes in some unusual colours that are not found in other salvias. They have masses of flowers from mid-spring to autumn. 30 x 40 cm.

New Dimension: Vibrant blue or pink, this upright, floriferous salvia has everything you need in a medium plant for the centre of beds. Its characteristics include attracting bees and butterflies, drought, heat, and frost tolerance. 15 x 25 cm.